Born in 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Truman Capote produced several of the most formative and critically acclaimed stories ever put to paper. But Capote was much more than just a talented writer, as he ascended to become one of high society’s most celebrated individuals of the 1960s before his life ultimately fell apart.
Capote first gained widespread recognition for his impeccable writing style after the publication of “Miriam,” a short story that ran in Mademoiselle magazine in 1945 when he was just 20 years old. Three years later, Capote published his first novel: Other Voices, Other Rooms.
But Capote truly rose to superstardom in 1958 with the publication of his novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Starring the now-iconic character Holly Golightly, this literary masterpiece was later adapted into an Academy Award-winning film of the same name starring Audrey Hepburn.
In 1959, a tragic series of murders in Holcomb, Kansas, captured Capote’s attention, and he traveled there to begin work on what would become his most celebrated work — In Cold Blood. This book helped usher in a literary genre called new journalism, which blends journalistic nonfiction with subjective writing and fictional techniques. In Cold Blood was also adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film in 1967, further solidifying Capote’s reputation as an unmitigated storytelling genius.
By the mid-1960s, Capote had unquestionably been inducted into high society, though this very rise to stardom and excess contributed to his untimely downfall. His increasing levels of substance abuse impeded his writing, as Capote failed to meet several deadlines with publishers. In the final two decades of life, Capote never managed to produce a work quite as successful as those he did in the 1950s and 1960s, and he passed away in 1984 at the age of 59.
Through his ups and downs, Capote fascinated those around him with his wit and creativity. Despite his enduring fame, however, there are several you may still not know about this legendary 20th-century writer. Here are some tidbits from his life that may surprise you.
Capote was friends with Harper Lee
One of history's most fascinating literary friendships was that of Truman Capote and Harper Lee. At the age of 4, Capote moved to the small town of Monroeville, Alabama, where he befriended a young girl named Nelle Harper Lee. The pair bonded over their mutual love of writing and storytelling, and they spent much of their time collaborating on stories they wrote on a typewriter purchased by Lee’s father.
This friendship remained strong as the two grew older, so much so that they each eventually based characters on one another. Capote based the character Idabel Tompkins on Harper Lee in his 1948 novel Other Voices, Other Rooms, while Lee based Dill Harris on Capote in her indelible 1960 classic To Kill a Mockingbird.
In 1959, Capote enlisted Lee’s help while researching the murders that formed the backbone of his novel In Cold Blood. The pair traveled to Kansas, where Lee helped compile countless notes that Capote would use while writing his book — for which he gave her no credit beyond the dedication page. Over the years, the pair grew estranged and remained so when Capote died in 1984.
“Capote” wasn’t his actual surname
Truman Capote was actually born Truman Streckfus Persons, though he would barely come to know his father, Archulus Persons. Truman’s parents divorced when he was just 2 years old, and he was sent to live with maternal relatives in Alabama.
In 1932, Truman reunited with his birth mother, and they moved to New York City along with her new husband, José García Capote. The stepfather chose to adopt the young boy and rename him Truman García Capote, a name that would stick forever.
Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to portray Holly Golightly
It’s impossible to imagine Breakfast at Tiffany’s starring anyone but Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, especially considering the role even garnered her an Oscar nomination. But initially, Capote had his eyes set on Marilyn Monroe, whom he strongly preferred for the role. Capote felt there were many similarities between Monroe and Golightly, such as the fact that they both left a country upbringing for lives in the big city.
During the film’s production, writer George Axelrod was even hired to tailor the screenplay specifically to Monroe. However, the actress declined the role on the advice of her acting coach, who said playing an escort could damage Monroe’s reputation. Capote grew quite upset and felt double-crossed by Paramount Pictures, despite the film’s ultimate success.
Capote hosted a legendary party in 1966
On November 28, 1966, fresh off the success of In Cold Blood, Capote hosted a lavish event known as the Black and White Ball at New York City’s Plaza Hotel. This masquerade is still considered one of the most lavish events of the decade and cost Capote $16,000 to organize (roughly $150,000 in modern money).
While some theorize that Capote wanted to throw a party for himself, doing so would have been in poor taste. Instead, he chose to randomly honor Katharine Graham, publisher of The Washington Post, who later said, “I felt a little bit that Truman was going to give the ball anyway and that I was part of the props.”
Other notable attendees included Johnny Carson, Walter Cronkite, Lady Bird Johnson, Sammy Davis Jr., and Andy Warhol, just to name a few. In addition to adhering to the titular color scheme, everyone was also required to wear a mask that would be removed at midnight; Capote bought his mask for 39 cents at the famed toy store FAO Schwarz just prior to the event. The midnight meal consisted of an unusual combination of chicken hash, spaghetti, and hundreds of bottles of champagne.
Capote was sent on tour to cover the Rolling Stones
In 1972, Rolling Stone magazine enlisted Capote’s help to follow the Rolling Stones on their upcoming “Cocaine and Tequila Sunrise” tour. The Stones were kings of the music world at the time, and the magazine hoped to capture their essence in a one-of-a-kind piece of journalism.
However, Capote’s involvement didn’t go as expected. Stones guitarist Keith Richards took offense to Capote following the band, as he believed Capote’s snobbish, high-society attitude directly contrasted what the band represented.
As the result of several mean-spirited pranks and confrontations between Richards and Capote, no magazine story was ever actually produced. Some tales were later shared by Capote during an interview with Andy Warhol, though not to the degree that Rolling Stone magazine had hoped.
Capote left behind two unfinished novels
In 1966, Capote signed a deal with Random House to produce a work titled Answered Prayers, with a delivery date scheduled for two years later. But Capote had his eyes set more on socializing than writing, so that deadline came and went. The deal was renegotiated many times, but each new deadline passed without the full manuscript ever being delivered.
According to one rumor, Capote may have finished the manuscript in 1976, though he ultimately destroyed that copy before it ever made its way to the publisher. Two years after Capote’s 1984 death, a partial version of Answered Prayers was published at long last using what bits were available.
Even further back, in the 1940s, Capote began work on a book titled Summer Crossing, a love story about a young socialite in New York City. However, Capote was so disillusioned with the project that he discarded the manuscript in 1944 … or so it was believed. As it turned out, a former housekeeper had actually salvaged the manuscript and kept it in their possession for decades, which was only discovered after the housekeeper’s death. Summer Crossing was finally published in 2005, more than 20 years after Capote’s passing.
Capote’s ashes were auctioned off
Capote was famous for his flamboyance in life, but his eccentricities also continued long after his death. After his cremation, Capote’s ashes were divided between his longtime companion Jack Dunphy and close friend Joanne Carson — the ex-wife of late-night TV host Johnny Carson.
The portion given to Carson was stolen and recovered on two separate occasions before ultimately being sold at an auction in 2016 that also featured two of Capote’s prescription pill bottles and the clothes Capote was wearing at the time of his death. The box containing Capote’s ashes was sold for $43,750 to an anonymous buyer, who promised that Capote would “continue his adventures.”
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